Question

High-risk neonatal hypocalcemia
1. What are special needs of the high-risk newborn with hypocalcemia
2. Nursing care and interventions relative to neonatal hypocalcemia and the rationales
3. Expected nursing outcomes
4. Anticipated long and short-term goals and expectations for the newborn with hypoglycemia ?.
5. Parental needs and the potential effect on the family unit
6. How to apply principles of Watson's theory of human caring to nursing care for the neonatal patient?

Answer 1

Calcium is very much essential to the body to function properly.Low calcium level cause problems in functions of muscle,nerves,cardiac muscle and in bones.It alters the normal system of function.The newborn will have the signs and symptoms such as irritability, hypotonia,tachycardia,weakness in bones and seizure.These are the possible signs that can occur due to deficient calcium in the blood.It usually occurs in preterm babies.

1.The special attention should be given to the proper feeding practice.Baby need supplementary calcium which should be given to the baby through breast feeding or by IV medications.Baby need to maintain normal calcium level.Baby need to attain normal weight in case of preterm babies.Baby need kangaroo mother care in preterm babies.Baby need to observe properly.

2.

Interventions	Rationale
Breastfeeding should be given to baby if unavailable supplementary feed should be provided.	To meet the nutritional needs
Monitor the vital signs regularly.	To find the changes in the vital organs.
Keep baby warm and comfortable ask mother to perform kangaroo mother care.	To make baby comfortable and make her adapt to the new environment.
Monitor the serum calcium level in regular intervals.	To know about the treatment progression.
Administer supplementary calcium.	To increase the calcium level.

3.Expected nursing outcome:

• Baby meets the optimum nutritional and the metabolic needs.
• Baby maintains the essential or normal calcium level in the body.

4.Long term goal of hypoglycemia:

• Baby attains the normal milestones and able to perform the normal functions
• Baby not having any developmental delay

Short term goal of hypoglycemia:

• Baby maintains normal serum glucose levels.
• Proper feeding given to baby.

5.Parents should taught about the disease condition and treatment strategy.Teach parents about care of the newborn.Provide emotional and supportive care to the family.Provide counselling to the family especially to the mother because they have affected psychologically.

6.This theory emphasize more on 'caring' than giving treatment or medications.The disease will be cured by giving medications or doing other treatment strategies.According to him care is more important than the treatment to cure the illness.Here it is applied to the parents.Supportive care should be given which makes them strong and make them to look after the baby.Care is more important for babies.As a new born they are new to the environment.Being in neonatal unit separates  the baby from the mother which makes baby uncomfortable .Hence along with treatment care and  love should be shown to the babies.